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OPINION

Letter | GOP will alter science boards

At a time when polar ice caps are melting, oceans are rising, shorelines are disappearing, and extreme weather events are increasing, and all of this is unambiguously observable, Republican science-deniers continue to claim it's all a hoax.

This would be laughable except for the fact that these science-deniers — who believe protecting oil company profits is more important that protecting the planet — already chair key science committees in the House, and will now also chair key science committees in the Senate. That is scary. For a hint of the scariness to come, consider: two days ago, the House passed the "EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013." Why is this reform bill necessary? Because the House Science Committee "determined that individuals with certain perspectives are overrepresented within the SAB and other viewpoints are frequently underrepresented or excluded from participation based on misinterpretation of ethics rules."

The bill stipulates that "persons with substantial and relevant expertise are not excluded from the board due to affiliation with or representation of entities that may have a potential interest in the board's advisory activities…"

What this bit of dissembling means is that scientists with ties to the fossil-fuel industry will now be allowed to serve on the EPA's Science Advisory Board, despite the clear conflict of interest that presents. In other words, House Republicans want to weaken the EPA by stacking the SAB with representatives controlled by the fossil-fuel industry. What could possibly go wrong? Before answering, reread my first paragraph.